Self-closing tube



Nov. 6, 1923. 1,472,845

C. N. KELLEY SELF CLOSING TUBE Filed Dec. 27, 1921 2- wir -2 PatentedNov. 6, 192.3.

UNITED sTA-Ti-:s

CHABLIS N. KELLEY, 0F MADISON, W'ICONSINJ SELF-CLOSING Toen.

Application filed December 27, 1921 Serial No. 524,964.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. Karma', a citizen of the United States,and resident of Madison, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Closin Tubes;and I do hereby declare that the fo lowing isa full, clear, and exactdescription thereof.

The invention relates to means for closing the opening in a collapsibletube on the discontinuance of pressure thereon.

Hitherto in the use of collapsible tubes, such as contain toothpaste andthe like, diiculty has been experienced because of the necessity forremoving the` threaded cap before feeding the paste and repositioning itafter the feeding operation. This procedure is inconvenient. Again thecap is oftentimes lost or the threads are mutilated, and the exposedpaste projecting thru the feeding orifice becomes hardened.

It is the object of the invention to obviate these inconveniences bv theprovision of a device which will actautomatically on the cesation ofpressure on the tube to close the outlet opening. This device remainspermanently in place, and in order to feed the contents 'of the tube, itis nor-i mally only necessary to press the same.

An important object is the facilitating of the read outow of thecontents of the tube.

An a ditional object is the provision of an exceedingly simple structureand easy to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an elevation with the nozzle in section of a modificationwherein the nozzle is integral with the tube.

Figure 2 is the central cross section of the cap, as applied to the tubeon the line 2-2 of Figure 4.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the cap, and

Figure 4 is a top plan of the ca Collapsible tube 10 is provided wlth anozzle 11 integral therewith, having a channel 12 therein. A spring hasa main portion 13 extending into channel 12 and contacting with all thewalls thereof. In the modification shown, channel 12 is rectangular incross section. The invention, however, is not limited to this specificform. A spring has a minor portion 14 bent at an angle and is providedwith apertures in which screws 15 are positionedfor securing thespring-to th nozzle.

It is obvious that when the tube is pressed, the paste will feedoutwardly and press ma]or portion 13 of the spring to one side. On therelease of pressing action, the strength of the spring is exertedagainst the paste in the opemng 12 and the spring moves forwardly to theposition shown in Figure 1, completely closing the opening 12 andprotecting the contents of the tube. The action of the spring is such asto maintain not only a. tight contact of the top of the spring with thewall of opening 12, but also the itting between the side walls ofopening 12, and the sides of the spring is ulei as to completely closethe end of the In the modification shown in Fi res 2, 3 and 4, thenozzle is made in the fgdim of a detachable cap 16 threaded internallyat 17 -to cooperate with the nipple 18 of flexible tube 19. Here thetube 1s of the type that 1s in use at present. A shoulder 20 on cap 16limits the downward threading action,

and a chamber 21 is provided above nipple 18 so that the horizontalsurface 22 is 1noperative` to constrict the opening in nipple 18. Inusing this device, the threaded cap now used on tubes of paste may beremoved and cap 16 may be screwed into place. The cap remains inposition as'long as there is any paste in the tube 19, so that in usingthe contents all that is necessary is a manual compression of the tube.Then the device may beset aside, no other operation being necessary.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that the present invention is notconfined to such specific embodiment, but may be otherwise embodiedwithin the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claim,and it will further be understood that a substantial range ofequivalence is contemplated.

I claiml:

The combination of a nozzle having an enlarged chamber therein, a springhavin a major portion and a minor portlon, sai minor portion beingsecured to said nozzle in said chamber, said nozzle having an elongatedchannel from said chamber to the exterior of said nozzle, said channelbeing of uniform cross section throughout its length and having twonarrow walls and two wide walls, the major portion of said springextending throughout the length of said channel, from one of said widewalls .5 tothe other of said wide walls, and from one of said narrowwalls to the other of said nar row walls, said major portion being at anacute an le with respect to each of said wide wal In testimony that Iclaim the' foregoing '10 I have hereunto set my hand at Madison, in thecounty of Dane and State of Wisconsin.

CHARLES N. KELLEY.

